Remote control typewriter



Feb. 9, 1960 A. E. ZISKIND ETAL REMOTE CONTROL TYPEWRITER- 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1958 INVENTORS. Z/S/ //VD L. Z/SK/A D TEE.

"HU E ALAN 5 BY Q/CHA/ZD I ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1960 5, 215mm: ETAL REMOTE CONTROL TYPEWRITER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2o Filed June 4, 1958 INVEN ALA/V E- Z/-$I E/CHAED L. BY 2 ATTOEA/EXS s-Sheet 3 Feb. 9, 1960 WI d INVENTORS.

L. Z/SK/ND V I I ATTORNEYS United States Patent REMOTE CONTROL TYPEWRITER Alan E. Ziskind, Cambridge, Mass., and Richard L. Ziskind, New York, N.Y.

Application June 4, 1958, Serial No. 739,791

16 Claims. (Cl. 197-19) This invention relates to typewriters, and especially an operating means therefor, and particularly such means for use by invalids.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a typewriter control system for use by invalids. A further object is to provide such a system which may be used even in extreme cases of invalidism, with most of the body of the invalid incapacitated. The present system is operable if two parts of the body remain controllably movable, as for example, the head and one knee, or the head and one elbow, or one arm and one knee.

A further object is to provide such a system which is applicable to a. standard electric typewriter. Still another object is to provide means which is detachably applicable to the typewriter so that the same machine may be used with or without the present control system.

To acomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the typewriter control system and the elements thereof, and their relation to one another and to the typewriter, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially cut away front elevation of a target board forming a part of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a typewriter fitted with a solenoid block forming a part of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the solenoid block;

. Fig. 4 is an end view of a housing for the block shown inrFig. 3;,

vFig. 5 is a partially sectioned front elevation showing the block in the housing;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view explanatory of the invention; v

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the solenoid block;

Fig. 8 is a section through the block taken in the plane 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram showing the circuitry used;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a photocell and relay com- .bination, many of which are used;

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the same;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section through the target board;

Fig. 13 is an edge view of the target board, drawn to small scale; and

Fig. 14 shows male connectors used at Fig.2.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 6, the typewriter control system comprises a target board 12 having an array of target areas 14 which are marked in symbols to correspond to typewriter keys.

Each such area has a light aperture with a photocell behind the-aperture. There is also a source 16 of a concentrated light beam adapted to be aimed by a movable part of the invalids body at the target board. This light sourees-may resemble a doctors headlight, such as the known Welch Allyn headlight, or it may be a large number of contacts,

fitted with an array of solenoids arranged at the keyboard of the typewriter, with a solenoid for each key. In preferred form the solenoids are upright push sole-' noids arranged to push downward, and they are located in what may be termed a solenoid block indicated at 20, which block is disposed over the keyboard of the typewriter 18. An additional modification of the typewriter may be made, which is to provide it with a paper roll 22 for continuous paper supply, in lieu of sheets, because in most cases the invalid is bedridden or otherwise unable to manage the insertion and removal of separate sheets of paper. Such roll supplies of paper are already commercially available as accessories for standard electric typewriters such as the I.B.M. typewriter.

The source 16 is aimed ata desired letter and energizes a photocell corersponding to that letter, which then seeks to operate the solenoid of the appropriate typewriter key. However, a single or master print switch button 22 provides a normally open switch in a common return or power circuit which prevents operation of all of the solenoids until the button 22 is touched. This button is adapted to be disposed near a selected movable part of the invalids body, for example, a knee or elbow, and when touched the selected solenoid is energized and operates the typewriter key.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the target board 12 is preferably relatively large, say a square which is two to three feet on edge. It has relatively large target areas 14 which in the present case are two inches in diameter. These are marked in large symbols, easily read from some distance away, and they are marked to correspond to typewriter keys. Each target area has a smaller light aperture 24, the said apertures having a diameter of say /2 inch. A photocell is disposed behind each aperture, as indicated at 26 at the lower left where the front of the target board has been cut away.

Referring now to Fig. 10, each photocell 26 preferably is combined with a relay 28. The resulting combination is housed in an envelope 30 secured to a base 32 having prongs 34 such as those used at the base of a radiotube. The prongs are perferably standard, so as to be received in a standard radio tube socket. The envelope 30 may be made of glass or a transparent plastic, or it may be opaque except at the end 36, which should be transparent.

. Reverting now to Fig. 1, each photocell and relay combination is detachably received in a mating tube socket, two of which are indicated at 38. These are mounted on a chassis plate 40 secured between the front and back walls of the target casing 12.

This is better shown in Fig. 12, in which the casing of the target board has a front wall 42 and a rear wall 44, with the chassis plate 40 secured therebetween. For convenience, the front and back of the target may be hinged as indicated at 46, so that the front of the target is openable, and when opened the photocell units 30 are exposed for inspection, removal or replacement. The wiring is not shown in Fig. 12 but is located behind the plate 40, and includes wires leading from the soldering lugs of the tube sockets to the female part 48 of afmultiple pin connector which may have--an appropriately as explained late The target casing may also be used to house t e powei' Patented Feb. 9, 1960 substance such as phosphor paint which will glow or fluoresce when exposed to the invisible light.

By the way of example, and not in limitation of the invention, we may mentioned that in a particular structure the photocells 26 were Clairex Type CL3A and the relays 28 were Sigma type 11F9000G relays. The solenoids had apressure of 3 to 6 ounces, and a stroke or thrust of M1 to inch. The sockets for the photocells and the bases of the latter were of the octal type The multiwire cable provided fifty four wires, of which forty nine were used. These or other references to specific components, and any quantitative dimensions heretofore and here given, are intended merely as examples, and are not intended to be in limitation of the invention.

It is believed that the construction and operation of our typewriter control system for invalids, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while we have shown and described our invention in a preferred form, changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims. In the claims, the reference to a source of light is intended to include a mirror such as a surgeons mirror. The term light" is intended to include invisible light such as ultra-violet or infrared. The term typewriter is intended to include addingmachines, stenotype machines, and analogous keyboard operated machines.

We claim:

1. In a typewriter control system for invalids, a target board having an array of target areas marked in symbols to correspond to typewriter keys, each target having a light aperture, a photocell behind each aperture, a source of concentrated light beam adapted to be aimed by a movable part of the invalids body at the target board, a typewriter, and circuitry controlled by said photocells for so operating the typewriter as to print the illuminated symbol.

2. In ,a typewriter control system for invalids, a target board having an array of target areas marked in symbols to correspond to typewriter keys, each target having a light aperture, a photocell behind each aperture, a source of concentrated light beam adapted to be aimed by a movable part of the invalids body at the target board, a typewriter, circuitry controlled by said,photocells for so operating the typewriter as to print the illuminated symbol, and a print switch in said circuitry adapted to be disposed near another movable part of the invalids body, said print switch normally disabling the circuitry but being operable by the invalid to print the desired symbol when that symbol is illuminated.

3. In a typewriter control system for invalids, a relatively large target board having an array of relatively large target areas marked in large symbols to correspond to the typewriter keys of a standard typewriter, each target having a smaller light aperture, a photocell and relay combination behind each aperture, a source of concentrated light beam adapted to be aimed by a movable part of the invalids body at the target board, a typewriter, circuitry controlled by said photocells for so operating the typewriter as to print the illuminated symbol, and a single normally open print switch in said circuitry adapted to be disposed near another movable part of the invalids body, said print switch normally disabling the circuitry but being operable by the invalid to print the desired symbol when that symbol is illuminated.

4. A typewriter control system for invalids, said system comprising a target board having an array of target areas marked in symbols to correspond to typewriter keys, each target having a light aperture, a photocell behind each aperture,.an array of solenoids arranged near the keyboard of the typewriter with a solenoid for operating each key, a multiple wire cable between said board and array with a wire between each photocell and its corresponding solenoid, additional power supply circuitry so arranged that an illuminated cell seeks to operate its corresponding solenoid, a single print switch in said circuitryto prevent operation of the solenoid until said print switch is operated, said print switch being adapted to be disposed near a selected movable part of the invalids body, and a source of light adapted to be aimed by another movable part of the invalids body at the target board.

5. A typewriter control system for invalids, said system comprising a relatively large, target board having an array of relatively large target areas marked in large symbols to correspond to the typewriter keys of a standard typewriter, each target having a smaller light aperture; a photocell and relay combination behind each aperture, an array of solenoids arranged near the keyboard of a standard typewriter with a solenoid for operating each key, a multiple wire cable between said board and array with a wire between each photocell relay and its corresponding solenoid, additionalpower supply circuitry so arranged that an illuminated cell seeks to operate its corresponding solenoid, a single normally open print switch'in said circuitry to prevent operation of the solenoid until said print switch is closed, said switch 'being adapted to be disposed near a selected movable part of the invalids body, and a source of light adapted to be aimed by another movable part of the invalids body at the target board.

6. A typewriter control system for invalids, said system comprising a target board having an array of target areas marked in symbols to correspond to typewriter keys, each target having a light aperture, a photocell behind each aperture, a solenoid block carrying an array of upright push solenoids arranged to push downward, said block being dimensioned to be disposed over the typewriter keyboard with a solenoid over each key, a multiple wire cable between said board and block with a wire between each photocell and its corresponding solenoid, additional power supply circuitry so arranged that an illuminated cell seeks to operate its corresponding solenoid, a single print switch in said circuitry to prevent operation of the solenoid until said print switch is operated, said switch being adapted to be disposed near a selected movable part of the invalids body, and a source of concentrated light beam adapted to be aimed by another movable part of the invalids body at the target board.

7. A typewriter control system for invalids, said system comprising a relatively large target board having an array of relatively large target areas marked in large symbols to correspond to the typewriter keys of a standard typewriter, each target having a smaller light aperture, a photocell and relay combination behind each aperture, a solenoid block carrying an array of I upright push solenoids arranged to push downward, said block being dimensioned to be removably disposed over the keyboard of a standard typewriter with a solenoid over each key, a multiple wire cable between said board and block with a wire between each photocell relay and its corresponding solenoid, additional power supply circuitry so arranged that an illuminated cell seeks to operate its corresponding solenoid, a single normally open print switch in said circuitry to prevent operation of the so lenoid until said print switch is closed, said switch being adapted to be disposed near a selected movable part of the invalids body, and a source of concentrated light beam adapted to be aimed by another movable part of the invalids body at the target board.

8. A typewriter control system, as defined in claim 6 in which the solenoid block has a pair of downwardly projecting pins and in which the typewriter has mating holes to receive the pins, said block remaining in position of its own weight after being properly located by the aforesaid pins and holes.

release or equivalent for connection to the second of said solenoids.

10. A typewriter control system as defined inclairn 5 in which there is a solenoid for the shift lock key of the typewriter, and another solenoid for the shift key of' the typewriter, and in which the target board has a target indicating shift lock or equivalent for connection to the first said solenoid, and has another target marked shift release" or equivalent for connection to the second of said solenoids.

11. A typewriter control system as defined in claim, 6 in which the solenoid block has a solenoid disposed over the shift lock key of'the typewriter, and has another solenoid'disposed over a'shift key of the typewriter, and in which the target board has a target indicating shift lock or equivalent for connection to the first said solenoid, and has another target marked shift release or equivalent for connection to the second of 'said solenoids. 7

12. A typewriter control system as defined in claim 7 in which'the solenoidblock has a solenoid disposedkover the shift lock key of the typewriter, and has another solenoid disposed over a shiftkey of the typewriter, and

in which the target board has a target indicating shift lock or equivalent for connection to thefirst said solenoid, and' has another target marked shift release or equivalent for connection to the second of said solenoids.

13. A typewriter control system as defined in claim l in which thetarget board 'is on t e front face of ajho'llow casing, and in which the front and rearhalvesofsaid casing are separable to open the casing, and in which there is a chassis plate mounted inthe rear half of the casing and having an array of sockets disposed behind the light apertures of the front half of the casing for receiving the photocells, and in which each photocell has a basewith pins to be detachably received in the aforesaidsocketss j: 1 14. A typewriter controlsystem 'as defined in claim '3 in which the-targetboard is onth'e'front face ofaihollow casing, and in which the front a'nd rear halves-oflsaid casing areseparable to open the casing, and *in which there is a chassis plate mounted in itheurear halfof the casing. andh'aving an array of radio-tube sockets dis-1 posed behind the light apertures of the front halfofthe casing forreceiving the photocell and relay combinations, and in which each photocelland relay-combination has a base withpins likethose of a standard radio tube to be detachably receivedin the aforesaid sockets. r l

15.. A typewriter control system as defined in claim 4 in which the targetboard-is on the front face of'a hollow casing, and in which the front and rear halves of said casing are separable to open the casing,and in which there is a chassis plate mounted in the rear half of the casing and-having an array of sockets disposed behind the light apertures of the front half of the casing forreceivingthe photocells, and in which each photocell has a base with pins to be detachably received in the eifore said-sockets.

'16. -A typewriter control system as defined in claim 5 in which the target board is on the front face of-a hollow casing; and in which the front and rearhalves of said -casing 'areseparable to open the casing, and in i which there is a chassis plate mounted in therear-half ofthe casing and having an array of radio tube sockets disposed behind the light apertures of the front half of the casing for receiving the photocell andrelay combinations,j and in which each photocell andrelay cornbinatio'n has a base with. pins like those of a standard radio tube tobe detachably received in the aforesaid sockets. p i

I References Citedin the file of this patentI UNITED STATES PATENTS- 1,753,99l Langford Apr. 8, 1930 2,241,670 McMaster May 13,1941 2,.3l0g482 Watson Feb. 9, 1943 a ssa 

